Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder
Separation anxiety disorder affects children and adolescents who fret frequently when they are not from their caregivers, parents or other significant people. They might also be worried about a possible negative outcome of separation, such as getting lost or injured.
Psychotherapy and medication can be used to treat children suffering from separation anxiety disorder. Therapy involves teaching the child to manage fearful situations gradually by providing reassurance and encouragement.
Signs and symptoms
Although some anxiety about being apart from loved ones is normal separation anxiety disorder can cause people much more intensely anxious than others when it comes to the separation from family members and primary caregiver figures. People suffering from this disorder fear that their family member could be the victim of a tragic event if they are separated. This could include getting lost or becoming sick. generalized anxiety disorder may also be fearful of other circumstances that could make them separated from their loved ones for example, being kidnapped or getting into a an accident with a car.
The onset of this anxiety disorder typically occurs in childhood, though adults can develop it at any age. Adult separation anxiety is not believed to be caused by any specific factor, but it may be triggered by life changes, depression, or PTSD. People suffering from this disorder may be overly dependent on their children or romantic partners, and may lack boundaries. Some may view them as overly clingy and demanding.
This condition is characterized by excessive distress when one is cut off from their family, significant stress when away from home or working, and recurring thoughts of separation. These symptoms can cause people to avoid traveling or engaging in other activities that require physical separation from family members, for example, returning to school. Children with this condition may have trouble sleeping or suffer from a range of physical problems like headaches or stomachaches, when they worry about being alone.
A healthcare provider will ask you about your previous and current symptoms or the symptoms of your child to determine if you suffer from separation anxiety. They will also ask you about your family and other relationships to find out how you have dealt with separation anxiety in the past.
Talk therapy and, in some instances, medication are utilized to treat this disorder. Your therapist can teach you and your child methods to manage their fears. They can also guide you deal with situations that scare you by guiding you through the steps that can help your child understand how to deal with separations and build up their confidence. The medicines can help calm the brain, relax the body and ease your child's anxieties.
Diagnosis
Separation anxiety disorder can cause people to experience extreme anxiety when they are away from their home or relatives. Unlike normal fear and worry that people generally suffer from these symptoms disorder are persistent, often lasting longer than four weeks for children and up to six months in adults. They cause major disruption to the daily routine and functioning at work and school. The condition can also cause problems with a person's ability form romantic relationships and socialize.
A mental health professional will interview and observe the patient's behavior in order to determine the cause of the disorder. The doctor will want to determine when the symptoms began and what triggers them to be more or less severe. Based on the age of the patient an expert in mental health may also ask about any recent events that may have caused stress, as well as any previous trauma history.
The doctor will also decide whether there is another medical condition that may cause similar symptoms. It could be due to an illness like cancer or an underlying neurological disorder, such as multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy. Other causes include childhood family traumas like mental illness of the parents, substance abuse, domestic violence and child abuse and neglect.
It is difficult to diagnose separation anxiety disorder in adults because there aren't any lab tests and the symptoms may be similar to other anxiety disorders. Separation anxiety disorder is more common among adults who have suffered an emotional trauma or a major loss. Some studies suggest that people who have been diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder in their childhood are more likely to be suffering from anxiety and depression as they age.
Separation anxiety disorder can be treated in many ways. People suffering from separation anxiety disorder can overcome their phobia through therapy, like a cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT), or medications such as selective serotonin receptor antagonists and antidepressants. People with this disorder often benefit from education for parents and techniques to improve their relationship with their children.
Treatment
Many children go through a stage when they become anxious and clingy to strangers When this fear persists throughout elementary school and beyond and is manifested as physical symptoms and affects daily functioning it could be a sign of separation anxiety disorder. According to BetterHelp an online therapy service for children the disorder of separation anxiety can affect up to 4% of children and has an average age of 7 years.
The healthcare provider for your child will perform a thorough exam to identify any physical issues that may be causing their anxiety. If no physical problems are discovered the healthcare professional for your child will refer them to an expert in anxiety disorders. It could be a psychologist or child psychiatrist.
Psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) is typically the first option for treating separation anxiety disorder. The therapy therapist will work with your child to help them learn healthy ways of managing their emotions, building confidence and independence, as well as building resilience. The therapist will also train parents on how they can support their child and help them deal with their anxiety. Separation anxiety disorder is usually treated with medication, including antidepressants, such as selective serotoninin receptor inhibitors (SSRIs).
The therapist will determine the best treatment plan for your child based upon their particular needs. For instance, children who suffer from extreme anxiety may benefit from a combination of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. This means gradually exposing your child to the situations that cause anxiety over time in a series of small steps until they feel comfortable.
As children grow older, their symptoms usually decrease. However, some adults may still suffer from symptoms of separation anxiety disorder throughout their adult lives. It can be challenging for them keep relationships going or to achieve certain career goals such as returning to college or going to work. Adults with separation disorder are more likely to suffer from co-occurring disorders, such as depression, phobias, and post-traumatic disorder.
The following is a list of preventatives.
Separation anxiety is common among many children. However, for some it can turn into an issue that causes problems with their lives and stops them from taking part in activities they like. Speak to a mental healthcare specialist if your child's fear is affecting their daily life.
Separation anxiety disorder is a condition where children experience extreme distress when they are away from their parents or other attachment figures. They are always worried about being kidnapped or lost or that an accident could cause them to lose those closest to them. They might have difficulty falling asleep at night or refusing to go to school, play dates or camp without their parents.
Doctors are not able to diagnose separation anxiety until the symptoms of a child are present for at minimum four weeks. Often, the healthcare provider will interview the child and their parents separately to get a full picture of the situation. They may ask about anxiety disorders that are not related to separation anxiety or family history, as well as changes in life that may have caused or made the separation anxiety worse.
Treatment for separation anxiety disorder is dependent on the child's age and the severity of the symptoms. Children younger than 5 years old usually express their anxiety through specific worries about harm to their family members for example, the fear that their parents might be hurt in a car accident or be attacked by burglars. Separation anxiety in older children is usually denied by them.
Behavioral therapy is a typical treatment for children with separation anxiety. It involves teaching relaxation techniques to children and assisting them to understand and manage their anxiety. In some instances, a mixture of therapies, including cognitive therapy, is utilized.
It's crucial for adults to be consistent in their responses to children's anxiety about separation. Kids need to know that their requests for parents to stay home aren't valid, and they'll only improve if provided with clear, definite boundaries and a lot of support while they work to overcome their fears.